Manchester, NH—As the current COVID-19 pandemic quickly impacted individuals, businesses and the economy, CCA Global Partners swiftly reacted to provide their independent flooring retailers the tools and resources necessary to react to the changing retail environment and keep their businesses running. Now, as the retail flooring business starts to rebound, CCA said it is continuing to adapt to support its members with a robust virtual event.
The LIFT2020 experience began earlier this month and members of Carpet One Floor & Home, ProSource, Flooring America/Flooring Canada, Floor Trader and International Design Guild have accessed webinars, networking events and product specials.
On June 23, CCA held day one of a two-day virtual event featuring guest speakers and the CCA leadership team. The agenda also included a live Q&A session with the CCA leadership team as well as focused member networking.
As part of its Day 1 agenda, Alison Embrey Medina, director of content at RetailX, joined division presidents John Gilbert and Keith Spano, to share insights on the new normal for the retail industry.
Following the interview with Medina, attendees had the opportunity to view division specific content. Gilbert and Spano addressed Carpet One Floor & Home and Flooring America/Flooring Canada attendees while ProSource, Floor Trader and International Design Guild members attended their own dedicated sessions. During these sessions, members learned about marketing programs and other division specific initiatives.
Upcoming agenda
John Venhuizen, president and CEO of Ace Hardware, will join CCA co-CEO Rick Bennet on Wednesday, June 24, at 12:10 p.m. EDT to share how Ace Hardware is driving change and adapting in these challenging times.
Wednesday also features interviews with Vance Bell, chairman and CEO of Shaw Industries, and Frank Siller, chairman and CEO of the Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation. Bell, joined by co-CEO Rick Bennet, will discuss how partnership between CCA and Shaw is helping both companies improve their business. Siller will join chairman, co-founder and co-CEO, Howard Brodsky, for an uplifting look at the ways CCA and its members are doing good.
Keynote Marcus Lemonis, star of CNBC’s The Profit, and successful business investor will lend his business expertise and share more about his 3P mantra – people, process, principles.
“We’re extremely proud of the quality virtual event that we’ve put together,” Brodsky said. “The insight, information and game-changing programs we’ve pulled together show the true strength and resilience of our cooperative.”
At the end of each day, members have the opportunity for virtual networking in small groups. Webex meeting rooms dedicated to 19 different topics have been set up for a maximum of 25 members to join for conversation. CCA team members will join each room to help facilitate the calls, but conversation will be free for the members to engage in as they like.
In addition to the two-day live event, LIFT2020 will close out the month with four days of live and on-demand education sessions covering a wealth of topics available for both members and their teams. The LIFT2020 website providing access to all sessions will remain live through the month of July to allow members time to access all the useful resources.
“We understand that our members are busy, and we are grateful that business is picking up for many of them,” Bennet said. “We want them to be able to access these valuable materials whenever and however they can.”